In a groundbreaking study, scientists have utilized one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers to predict a chilling future for life on Earth. According to a report published by LaGrada in April 2025 and later confirmed by BGR on May 6, 2025, researchers from NASA and Toho University in Japan have concluded that life on our planet will eventually come to an end—though not due to war or an asteroid impact, but rather because of the natural evolution of our Sun.
While the extinction event is billions of years away, the findings provide a stark reminder of the fragility of life on Earth. The calculations indicate that life will become impossible around the year 1,000,002,021—approximately one billion years from now. By that time, conditions on Earth will become too extreme for even the hardiest organisms to survive.
The primary cause of this predicted extinction is the Sun itself. Currently a stable G-type main-sequence star, the Sun is slowly becoming hotter and more luminous as it ages. This increase in solar output, known as solar luminosity, will ultimately render Earth uninhabitable. As the BGR report outlines, the Sun’s energy output will steadily rise, gradually increasing Earth’s global temperature.
This change won’t happen overnight; it’s a slow and steady process that will unfold over hundreds of millions of years. The consequences, however, will be profound: increased temperatures will lead to the evaporation of oceans, and the drying of the planet’s surface will cause widespread extinction of plant and animal species. Eventually, photosynthesis will cease due to heat stress, reducing atmospheric oxygen levels.
Interestingly, the notion that oxygen levels will play a critical role in Earth’s eventual demise isn’t new. In a landmark study published in 2021 by researchers Kazumi Ozaki of Toho University and Christopher T. Reinhard from Georgia Institute of Technology, it was found that Earth will begin to lose atmospheric oxygen in less than 1.08 billion years, well before the Sun reaches its red giant phase. They noted, “Earth’s atmosphere is currently rich in oxygen, but this won’t last forever. The biosignatures we rely on to identify life from space are temporary and will disappear.”
This research shifts our understanding of the timeline for the “end of life” on Earth, suggesting that the biosphere could collapse long before the planet becomes a scorched wasteland.
Although the extinction of all life on Earth is not expected for another billion years, the implications of these findings are significant today. Understanding planetary habitability is crucial as it helps us grasp the limits of life and what makes a planet habitable—essential knowledge in the ongoing search for Earth-like exoplanets.
Moreover, the impact on astrobiology is noteworthy. When astronomers search for life on other planets, they often look for oxygen as a biosignature. However, this research indicates that oxygen is a temporary feature, not a permanent one, even on living planets. Consequently, we might be overlooking planets that had life in the past or may have life in the future.
Additionally, these findings serve as a reminder of the delicate balance that sustains life on our planet today. Our current climate system, atmosphere, and ecosystems are not eternal—they are dynamic and evolving.
By the time we reach the year 1,000,002,021, Earth is projected to resemble modern-day Venus: a scorched, oxygen-poor planet incapable of supporting life. NASA’s solar evolution models predict that the Sun will continue to heat the planet until it enters its red giant phase, potentially engulfing Mercury, Venus, and possibly even Earth itself. Any remaining traces of our planet’s surface—oceans, mountains, cities—will be vaporized or melted.
While the exact date of this predicted extinction should be viewed as an estimate rather than a fixed number, the models used by NASA and Toho University provide an extraordinary glimpse into the far future of Earth. The researchers emphasize the importance of investing in climate science to understand long-term changes to our biosphere, enhancing space exploration to discover new habitable worlds, and developing sustainability policies that ensure Earth’s habitability for as long as possible.
It’s essential to remember that life on Earth is remarkably resilient. It has survived asteroid impacts, ice ages, and supervolcanic eruptions. However, even the toughest life forms will eventually face extinction—not because of human actions, but due to stellar evolution.
As we contemplate the distant future, we must also consider the present. Recent events suggest that the decline of Earth’s habitability may have already begun. Reports indicate that solar storms and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) have become increasingly frequent, affecting the atmosphere and magnetic field. Rising global temperatures and melting glaciers are further signs of Earth’s decline.
Moreover, human activities such as deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels could accelerate this decline, making it even more urgent for world leaders to address climate change. While some nations are pushing for sustainable energy sources, others continue to invest heavily in fossil fuels, raising concerns about the long-term survival of humanity on Earth.
In light of these findings, the survival of humanity may ultimately require looking beyond our planet. As scientists explore the possibility of colonizing other worlds, such as Mars, the importance of understanding our planet’s future becomes increasingly clear.
Ultimately, while the timeline for the end of life on Earth spans billions of years, the findings from NASA and Toho University underscore the need for immediate action to protect our planet. The researchers are not sounding an alarm about tomorrow but rather offering a long-range perspective on the lifespan of planetary environments. Understanding this timeline is crucial for the sake of science, future generations, and our place in the universe.
